A major new research partnership led by the University of Birmingham and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will formally launch on Monday 23 March, creating a dedicated centre to analyse failed orthopaedic implants and strengthen patient safety across the UK and internationally.
The Birmingham Implant Retrievals Centre will study implants that have failed inside the body, alongside associated tissue samples, to understand why device failures occur and how risks can be detected earlier. The initiative aims to generate essential evidence to improve implant design, regulatory oversight and clinical practice.
The centre is being led by the University of Birmingham in partnership with Birmingham Health Partners, with ROH serving as the primary clinical partner. The collaboration also includes a wide network of national and international organisations, such as:
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- ODEP (Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel)
- Beyond Compliance
- Industry partners working across implant design and manufacturing
This cross‑sector partnership positions Birmingham at the forefront of global implant safety research.
Researchers at the University will apply advanced engineering techniques to implants retrieved from patients undergoing revision joint replacement surgery. This includes detailed examination of:
- Wear and fatigue
- Corrosion
- Material degradation
- Failure mechanisms
- Performance over time inside the body
These insights will be closely linked to clinical data collected by ROH, one of the largest revision surgery centres in the UK and a global leader in orthopaedic oncology.
ROH’s access to failed implants — along with consented patient data — provides an unparalleled evidence base, enabling detailed analysis of implant performance in real clinical environments.
By coordinating retrieval, consent and transfer processes from ROH to the University of Birmingham, the new centre will analyse devices far more quickly than traditional, fragmented pathways allow.
This will provide:
- Rapid insights for manufacturers
- Evidence to inform regulators
- Better understanding of causes of implant failure
- Improved early‑warning indicators for patient safety
The findings will directly support guidance from major authorities including NICE, MHRA, FDA and ODEP, ensuring that learning feeds into UK and global standards.
The Birmingham Implant Retrievals Centre aims to deliver:
- Earlier detection of implant risks
- Stronger evidence behind screening and testing protocols
- Improved understanding of why revision surgeries are required
- Better design and regulation of orthopaedic implants
For NHS leaders, this represents a significant step forward in tackling avoidable harm, understanding long‑term device performance, and driving innovation in musculoskeletal care.
Professor Adrian Gardner, Research and Development Director and Consultant Spinal Surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, said:
“While joint replacement implants have improved significantly, and therefore patient outcomes, understanding why implants fail is critical. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the University of Birmingham to bring this research to the Midlands, supporting local researchers with this essential work that will ultimately improve patient safety through the performance of joint replacement devices.”
The initiative also formalises and deepens collaboration between the University of Birmingham and ROH, enhancing research integration between engineering disciplines and frontline clinical practice.
The partnership demonstrates the strength of Birmingham’s health innovation ecosystem and aligns with national priorities to improve the safety, effectiveness and oversight of medical devices.
Image credit: iStock
